Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Archello Awards 2026 · Enter your projects before 30 September 2026
Net Zero Farmhouse
Tzu Chen

Net Zero Farmhouse

The client is a transplant from Northern California who decided to move east and settle in central North Carolina on the USA east coast.

The client found a large piece of previously farmed land bordered by a creek, perfect for starting the farmstead. The client's brief was for a two bedroom house with the public spaces separating the bedrooms to allow for maximum privacy. The primary bedroom faces out toward the view. The second bedroom faces north so it can double as a glare free office space, in addition to being a guest room. The public rooms all face south for optimal light. Deep overhangs protect the windows from solar heat gain in the hot summers of North Carolina. There are two special outdoor spaces: one is a screen porch facing the wide expanse of grassy fields and the other is a small breakfast deck off the kitchen.

Eventually there will also be a barn for the client's beautiful horse, Duke.
This is a real modern farmhouse -- Net-Zero with a cool roof and triple glazed passive house windows, along with passive house detailing to achieve the most energy efficient house possible.

photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen
photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen

We sited the drive to hug the edge of the property lines to leave as much of the site interior untouched as possible.

Originally, the site was covered with scrub, but native grasses are now coming in naturally adding to the beauty of the property.
This design idea behind this farmhouse was inspired by the feeling of farm groupings of little outbuildings, native to rural North Carolina. We are interpreted this in a modern way with shed roofs, a small courtyard for the future dog or cat, and large banks of energy efficient windows.

photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen
photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen

The client's brief was for a two bedroom house with the public spaces separating the bedrooms to allow for maximum privacy. The primary bedroom faces out toward the view. The second bedroom faces north so it can double as a glare free office space, in addition to being a guest room. The public rooms all face south for optimal light. Deep overhangs protect the windows from solar heat gain in the hot summers of North Carolina. There are two special outdoor spaces: one is a screen porch facing the wide expanse of grassy fields and the other is a small breakfast deck off the kitchen.

photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen
photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen

This design idea behind this farmhouse was inspired by the feeling of farm groupings of little outbuildings, native to rural North Carolina. We are interpreted this in a modern way with shed roofs, a small courtyard for the future dog or cat, and large banks of energy efficient windows.

photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen
photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen

Team:

Architects: Arielle Schechter 

Photographer: Tzu Chen

photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen
photo_credit Tzu Chen
Tzu Chen
Share or Add Net Zero Farmhouse to your Collections